The influence of socioeconomic and behavioural factors on the caries experience of adults with mental disorders in a large Brazilian metropolis.

Background: Individuals with mental disorders have a significant risk of experiencing a deterioration in their oral health due to several factors. This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to evaluate the influence of socioeconomic and behavioral factors on the caries experience of adults with mental disorders in a large Brazilian metropolis.

Methods: A total of 753 adults diagnosed with schizophrenia or depression participated in the study. They were users of 10 public mental health outpatient clinics located in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. These adults provided data on socioeconomic characteristics, medication use, and behaviours related to general and oral health. Oral heath examinations were conducted to evaluate dental plaque and caries experience.

Results: It was observed that the chance of presenting decayed, missing due to caries, and filled teeth (DMFT) above the sample median was significantly higher among older individuals (OR = 11.62; 95% CI: 8.11-16.66), those with lower education levels (OR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.23-2.53), those who used tobacco 3 or more times per week (OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.18-2.56) and those with a higher biofilm index (OR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.01-2.09), p< 0.05. The DMFT index (mean ± SD) was 15.3 ± 8.4 for individuals with schizophrenia and 15.8 ± 8.3 for individuals with depression. Mean plaque index was 2.81 for participants with schizophrenia and 2 for participants with depression.

Conclusion: The sample of Brazilian adults with mental disorders had poor oral health, which was associated with socioeconomic, behavioural, and oral factors.